Themed collection Fundamentals and Applications of Functional Framework Materials

Artur Ciesielski, Christopher H. Hendon and Katherine A. Mirica introduce the Journal of Materials Chemistry C themed issue on fundamentals and applications of functional framework materials.

Three distinct etching strategies for MOFs, involving pore engineering, chemical modification, and phase conversion are reviewed to explore how pore structure, defects, composition, and morphology influence gas sensing performance.

In this article, we summarize the progress in the studies of the detection mechanism and application of fluorescent MOFs in gas detection, with a view to providing a breakthrough direction for future research.

Iron based nanomaterials/complexes/alloys/MOFs have been discussed for CO₂ reduction, N₂ fixation, pollutants degradation and OER/HER via type II, Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunctions.

This review introduces the response mechanism of photoresponsive lanthanide luminescent materials. In particular, various applications in luminescent actuators, photoswitches, intelligent anticounterfeiting, and theranostics are highlighted.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated a wide range of applications because of their versatile functionalities. Surface-grafted MOF particles with polymers possess merits of both components. The synergetic combination holds great potentials as emerging materials.

We provide a detailed review of 2D-ITQ-MOFs, novel 2D hybrid materials, which is focused on their synthesis, specific catalytic applications and photophysical properties of composites with different luminescent dyes.

Here, we report an air-free approach to infiltrate isostructural metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), M-MOF-74 (M = Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg), with conjugated acceptor 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ).

A p-type semi-conducting and 2D coordination polymer, made of 1D copper(I)–sulfur inorganic networks, exhibits very high Seebeck coefficient for thermoelectricity.

Photochromic silver MOFs with thermally excited triplet radicals show room-temperature phosphorescence emission, and the outstanding photothermal conversion promotes efficient solar-driven water evaporation.

DOCK5 acts at focal adhesions in breast cells to establish positive feedback loops via CDC42 and RAC. The stabilisation of polarity during migration promotes persistent YAP/TAZ activation which we propose drives cancer phenotypes.

The composite material MAPbBr₃@MOF-5 exhibits not only significantly enhanced stability but also superior nonlinear optical properties under near-infrared laser pulse excitation.

A highly sensitive MOF fluorescence probe for discriminative detection of aliphatic and aromatic amines.

A flexible and tough, poly(lauryl methacrylate-acrylamide)@cobalt-manganese metal organic framework supramolecular composite hydrogel was developed for the detection of various subtle and large human motions successfully.

Scheme shows the incorporation of Trypan blue (Try) as an organic linker in designing bimetallic organic frameworks. R_ct values indicate 3d–3d MOFs can achieve a more conductive network compared to 3d–4f MOFs.

Lu-MOFs with formic acid as the sole ligand were synthesized by a formamide hydrolysis reaction. The luminescence color and intensity of Lu–Eu-MOFs-bipy can be controlled by the energy competition and transfer between 4,4′-bipyridine and Eu³⁺.

Dopamine and arginine are both important substances in the body and are closely related to human health.

A novel complex combining photo- and amine-induced chromic, switchable photoluminescence, and photomodulated nonlinear optical properties has been prepared using electron-rich sulfate and electron-deficient 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine.

The specific capacitance of NCA₁₅-MOF/NF was 1317 F g⁻¹, which was significantly higher compared to the NCA₀-MOF/NF. After 15 000 charge–discharge cycles, the NCA₁₅-MOF/NF retained 89% of its initial specific capacitance.

A Zn coordination polymer was constructed to identify chiral cinchonine and cinchonidine with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility.

Unique structural design and precise compositional adjustment are universally accepted as effective methods for the enhancement of microwave absorption capacity.

Two water-stable luminescent Cd-MOFs were synthesized from flexible carboxylate ligand and two N-containing ligands with different rigidity and flexibility, which demonstrated different luminescence responses toward antibiotics TC/OTC.

A disordered zirconium-oligosilyl coordination polymer exhibits coordination-dependent charge transfer.

This work describes two Ni(II)/Zn(II)-CPs with 3D (4,5)-connected net for 1 and pcu net for 2, both can serve as multiresponsive luminescent sensors of  IO₄⁻, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol and folic acid.

NU-1000 can be used to adsorb and rapidly hydrolyse paraoxon-methyl to non-toxic compounds. This study further reveals that luminescence can be used to reveal paraoxon-methyl degradation.

A new 2-D 8-connected rare earth (RE) MOF based on a hexanuclear (RE³⁺)₆ SBU, the increase of the dimensionality through SCSC linker installation reactions and the turn-on of the temperature sensing capability upon these reactions are reported.

Eu-Tb-UiO-66 acts as a highly sensitive luminescent thermometer near room temperature.

Fabrication of laser-induced graphene functionalized with a metal–organic framework (Cu-BTC). The Cu-BTC@LIG composites are used as electrodes for supercapacitors.

A novel MOF floating-gate optical memory transistor was engineered using 2D molecular crystals as the active layer, and it exhibited an excellent electron capture ability, good current retention characteristics, and multi-level memory functionalities.

Pr-MOF([Pr(L)(CO₃)_0.5(H₂O)]_n) has been shown to have excellent nonlinear properties and has been successfully applied to an erbium-doped fiber laser.

We applied Fe(II)-based MOFs with different spin-states to investigate the impact of Fe(II) spin-state on the bulk modulus. The results emphasize the complex parameter space that determines the mechanical properties of MOFs.

A biomass-derived electromagnetic absorber was developed using Juncus effusus (JE), achieving low RL value and broad EAB (−40.4 dB, 3.48 GHz), and the maximum RCS reduction value of 32.4 dB m².

Superhydrophobic Zr-MOF unveils solvent-free chemical fixation of CO₂ at 1 bar, along with efficient aerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons into fine chemicals and fast, nanomolar detection of aclonifen in wastewater, vegetables, and fruits.

Multi-technique operando investigation reveals the detailed evolution of UiO-67 MOF with embedded Pd nanoparticles under CO₂ hydrogenation reaction conditions at elevated pressures and temperatures.

Several MOFs are evaluated as adsorbents of anthropogenic N₂O emissions, the third most abundant greenhouse gas, through complimentary experimental and DFT analysis. N₂O activation in M₂(dobdc) MOFs is also studied.

Secondary linkers with different length are installed in a stepwise fashion inside rare-earth MOFs consisting of less connected RE₆ clusters.

A polarized luminescent thermometer was prepared by encapsulating DSM and ACF dyes within the metal-organic framework (MOF) ZJU-28.

MOFs formed from 8-connecting nodes and 4-connecting linkers can have the flu, scu and csq topologies. Here we show design criteria for making the rare sqc topology and how topology can be used to generate distinct post-synthetic metalation sites.

We revealed the relationship between the inorganic (–M–S–)_n network and photoconductivity by systematically synthesizing semiconductive Pb(II) coordination polymers with methoxybenzenethiol.

Energy transfer efficiency between Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ and photoluminescence of Ce/Eu@Gd-MOFs are enhanced in D₂O compared with those in H₂O.

Two Hofmann-type multifunctional materials are reported, displaying a tuning of the luminescence properties by the spin-crossover, and have exfoliated by in nanometric flakes by the Scotch-tape method.

This work examines a family of UiO-based MOFs built from terephthalic acid and a methyl red linker. The orange-red MOFs show a colourimetric response, changing to dark red with acid vapour, and yellow with base (ammonia) vapour.

Mechano-elastic properties of polymeric frameworks depend on discrete changes between hexanediamine conformers. Their transformations induced by external stimuli include an unusual linear compression, ferroelastic transitions or amorphization.

Experimental and theoretical validation of a triazine-based covalent organic framework as a semiconductor with the band gap in the range of 3.2–3.4 eV.

By controlling the ratio of end groups in a series of porous organic polymers, we maximized their cobalt adsorption capacity.

A stacked 2D Cu(I) coordination polymer displays electrical conductivity with DFT calculations revealing a band structure comprised of donor TCNQ^II− and acceptor 2,5-dimethylpyrazine p-orbitals.

Hierarchically porous Z-scheme CsPbBr₃@HZIF-8 heterojunctions are prepared for efficient photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride in high-salinity water.

We demonstrate the facile vapor-phase synthesis of a novel, porous zero-valent metal–organic framework from the reaction between volatile M(CO)₆ (M = Mo, W) and 4,4'-bipyridine precursors.

UiO-66 small tetrahedral pores host the preferential water adsorption sites. Hydrophilic functional groups boost the affinity of the octahedral pores for water, explaining the higher water uptake of functionalized UiO-66 at low relative humidity.

A trimetallic rare-earth cluster-based metal–organic framework is synthesized that emits red, green and blue emission simultaneously.